Da Workshop #3: Well...That Sucked!

Tom, after having survived 4 hurricanes in 3 years, I can fully understand your feelings. But, before you get too upset, look around. Do you still have your family and are they safe and sound? If the answer is yes, then you can recover. Everything else is just stuff. Keep the faith.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

I am with FIwoodRat stuff can always be replaced with better stuff. Hang in there.

-- All bleeding will eventually stop.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I know that it could have been much, much worse. Still, I had just bought this and set it up. I was finally feeling like a “real” woodworker, and now I have to figure something else out. This was not what I wanted to wake up to ;)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

That is a bummer, TC. But despite this you are still a “real” woodworker. Given your resourcefulness I am sure you can figure something else out.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Hey, Tom I was not minimizing your tragedy but simply trying to help you see the positive side . Your skills are not in the shop, you have acquired them and no one can take that away from you my friend not even a 60+ mph wind.

-- All bleeding will eventually stop.

Sorry to hear this TC. Best of luck on the bookcase and with the new start at the 20 yard-line. First and ten – go get ‘em pardner.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over two decades.

Tom, that stinks. I know how you feel – I lost my entire shop in a fire in April 2007. That sinking feeling goes away after a bit.

-- http://www.peteroxley.com/woodworking -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

Yikes, knew it was a bit gusty this morning but to have to shop take a hike on you must really be something. Definitely a good argument for a more anchored structure.

-- Doug, woodworking in Alabama

Tomcat,
Sorry to hear about the setback. Have you looked at the retractable awnings they sell at the borg? They attach to the house. It is hard to work in a make do situation. Hang in there. What is your situation? Maybe you need to run a lumberjocks design competition to find a solution. Maybe just a good used covered trailer might work for the tool storage and a small shop, step outside for more space. good luck,Mike

-- mike, www.schoolofwood.com

ah, crap! I just posted a comment on your dados, only to find this post. yikes, that TOTALLY sucks. my sympathy to you!

Bummer man, Life just messed up your schedule. Mine haven’t been from the weather yet. Suck it up and always move forward, if only in the planning. Good time to draw up some designs.

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

Remember storms have silver linings. There are usually lots of trees which have fallen so are good source of lumber and homes with damage usually throw away the damaged timber – I got a stack of Huon Pine that way.

Either way you and your family are safe and for that I am glad.

-- The wood slayer - Yes dear I did plan to make more kindling out of that wood I have been drying for the last year - honest!

Scott: You’re right. Still, it was nice to have a place to call a shop, and one gust of wind put an end to that part of it. Now I feel like I’m just making do until I can find a plan B.

Jacques: No worries man, because you’re right. Luckily, this just “sucks”. I could have been much, much worse ;)

Douglas: That’s the outlook I’m trying to take into this. And this definitely doesn’t stop me, it just slows me down a bit.

Peter: Good to know. Luckily, I suspect that my tools will all be OK after a sufficient drying out period, so I’m ahead of the game there ;)

Doug: Yeah, the wind was awful this morning…for about one gust at least. I’m definitely looking toward a more durable structure of some type just so this won’t happen again. With the gazebo, it was probably going to happen sooner or later anyways.

Mike: I’m not real crazy about those awnings. For the cost of the one’s I’ve seen (they’re not in the BORGs here), I could build something permanent that would probably be a LOT more durable. The only reason the pop-up gazebo was there was because I didn’t have the means really to build something else. Something retractable isn’t really necessary.

Aaron: I appreciate the sympathy. Luckily, I’m really only out $100 or so, so I’m not that bad off really. I’ll be sure to check out your reply on the dado post :)

mtnwild: Much appreciated. I’m actually going to look forward to a more durable shop. I hate construction projects, but I don’t see where I have a choice on this one!

Andraxia: So far, I haven’t seen that many trees or homes damaged. Still, as you say, me and mine are just fine and that’s really what’s important!

All: Thanks for your kind words! They are all greatly appreciated. That’s the great thing about LJ. When one of us is in trouble, everyone seems to step up and let them know they’re not alone. It means a lot folks.

Thank you all.

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!